Roxan ~ In My Life with the Beatles

28

Amsterdam-Boys

The plane touched down at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands, just on 1pm. A booked television show was first on the cards for the day, after a few delays the show went smoothly in front of around 150 or so. An audience of men...

Once Paul had launched into Long Tall Sally most of those men decided to get up and join the bewildered boys on stage. All too soon it was apparent they needed to make a speedy extraction from the situation.

They left so fast Jimmy was still drumming after the boys fled.

James and I sorted the equipment with Neil; Mal had driven the boys back to the hotel. Arriving back around midnight we were met with silence and darkened rooms.

"Shite" Neil bellowed as he darted into the various rooms.

"They've done a runner Rox, can you stay here, Jimmy and I will go to the closer clubs see if we can flush 'em out. The weasels" Neil was half way down the hall to the stairs by the time I said "Righto"

Three a.m and I'm cleaning up the mess of six lads - beer bottles, teacups, lolly wrappers and peanut shells discarded - were driving me nuts  literally. I wanted to stay up and wait so I cleaned to keep awake.

A flash of pink rushed by me, I only just caught the fabrics' colour out of the corner of my eye. I had been cleaning around the wash basin in Paul and Georges room, suddenly the room swelled. The one girl being joined by twenty more giggling adoring fans. They poured through the suite looking for their marks. I grabbed a phone ringing down to reception asking for security.

Just as the girls seemed about to give up Neil shoved the boys through the front door. From my position just inside the bedroom door, I could see Johns face- he grimaced, George had an 'oh no" face and Paul looked like he was a target on a shooting range. They were in no mood for little girls and quickly crashed through the closest door available, locking it behind them.

Seconds later a whistle blew and policemen raced into the room. I saw the girls rounded up and let out of sigh. Time to let the boys know. As I padded across the living area a single policeman came back in, took one look at me and made a grab for my arm.

"I'm with the band"

"Right lady. Not likely. You coming with me" He rattled off in broken English.

I screamed for the boys behind the door -nothing.

I yelled their names- nothing.

They must think I'm one of the girls and so they leave me to my fate with the copper.

**************

Dawn- I'm in a cell, it's been 2 hours or more. Most of the girls were gone now, parents being called for and the girls admonished loudly through the cell cage before being released to mummy's arms.

I was now sat here with four hookers, two drunkards and pick pocket, well I think she is, she keeps grabbing things out of her pockets and underwear, which obviously aren't hers.

Every time a copper walked by I was up and at him saying my name, asking him to call the hotel, to ask for Neil- nothing, the last one shoved his baton roughly in my side. Memories flood and my mood is getting blacker as the sun rises and I curse Brian for staying with Ringo.

Surely someone has risen from his nice soft, warm bed and noticed I'm not there!

****

OK this is ridiculous. I've now remembered it's a lay day.

I'm tired. I'm annoyed. The memories that had curled like smoke around me flitted away as the day broke proper over the window ledge. Not happy but not fearful like I was when held in the Liverpool Police Station watchhouse.